Health Insurance Blog

The WhiteHouse.gov website has information on the new health care reform bill.  They specifically discuss the changes being made to Medicare.  To pay for the health care reform bill there needs to be $313 billion in savings to create a deficit for an overall neutral plan.  The article says that America has the most expensive health care system in the world but points out that we do not get the best results.  Something new is needed to change this.

The majority of the savings which will help pay for the new bill comes from savings in the Medicare and Medicaid system.  There are 3 main points to saving in Medicare which include incorporating productivity adjustments into Medicare payment updates, reducing subsidies to hospitals for treating the uninsured as coverage increases, and pay lower prices for Medicare Part D drugs.

The pharmaceutical industry has committed to slowing the rate of increase of health care costs.  This will also help keep health insurance quotes down as most Americans will be required to carry health insurance coverage.  The Administration is continuously working with Congress to develop the best ways to achieve the necessary savings.

PacificSource Health Plans has acquired Clear One Health Plans for $46 Million.  Under the merger agreement, Clear One will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Eugene Oregon based PacificSource.

The merger will allow PacificSource to increase its presence in Central Oregon and expand into the Medicare and Medicaid markets through Clear One Health Plans  operation while continuing to devote energy towards PacificSource’s commercial health insurance business.

The deal still requires approval by the Oregon Insurance Division, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Oregon Division of Medical Assistance Programs, as well as final shareholder approval.

Bend Oregon based Clear One provides health insurance, including Medicare Advantage plans, commercial plans, individual health insurance plans as well as administrative services to individuals and businesses throughout the West.

After the merger, PacificSource Health Plans is expected to cover about 228,000 members and PacificSource TPA about 80,000. Employer clients are expected to total 5,676 and 303 respectively.

More information about Oregon Health Insurance.

Nine out of ten seniors are satisfied with their medicare supplement insurance according to Blue Cross Blue Shield’s (BCBS) website.  Most Medigap policyholders feel they are getting good value for their money based upon a survey recently released by BCBS and America’s Health Insurance Plans.

The survey, which was conducted by American ViewPoint, INC, shows that approximately 88% of seniors carrying medicare supplement insurance were satisfied and 62% consider themselves very satisfied.  Even more impressive is that 87% said they would recommend their Medigap coverage to friends and family.  According to the survey, the main thing they liked about their coverage was the flexibility choosing any physician they wish and the peace of mind they find with their protection.  Medical bills and processing paperwork is simple as well for these consumers.

Shopping around for a Medigap policy can be overwhelming since there are so many companies offering these types of policies, including BCBS medicare supplements.  To ensure you are part of the majority who have positive experiences with their Medicare, it’s important to shop around to get the best rates as well as the most comprehensive benefits that suit your needs.

According to the article “Advantage Plan Cancellation: What To Do” found on TucsonCitizen.com, you have two options in the case that your Medicare Advantage Plan is cancelled.  It’s important to understand those options to the best of your ability so you aren’t left without coverage for any period of time.

The first option is to change to another Advantage Plan as quickly as possible.  The other option is to return to a Medicare Plan and get a Medicare Supplement along with it.  This is called “guaranteed issue” and it’s a great option for many.  Finding individual health insurance can be challenging for anyone, but when your Medicare Advantage Plan is cancelled, you don’t want to be left scrambling.

In order to take advantage of “guaranteed issue” a few requirements must be met.  A copy of the cancellation letter from the company canceling the Medicare Advantage Plan must be submitted along with the Medicare Supplement application.  It’s important to ensure the appropriate boxes on the application are checked to show that one would be eligible for “guaranteed issue”.

According to the article “Medicare ‘Buy-In’: A bargain or burden?” by Richard Wolf for USA Today, the latest health insurance proposal involves letting people use Medicare starting as early as age 55.

While this may sound appealing to many, the Medicare premium has not been determined and it could be costly.  Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, and other Democrats are considering expanding eligible consumers for Medicare and maybe Medicare supplement insurance plans.  This is an effort to break a deadlock between liberals and moderates who are unable to agree on a government run health insurance plan.

Details of this proposed plan are still pending an analysis completed by the Congressional Budget Office, who will project costs associated with the plan.  Those who are ages 55-64 who are uninsured or looking for more competitive premiums would likely be eligible.  Most consumers with employer based coverage would not be eligible for early Medicare coverage.  Finding health insurance for this age group may get easier if this plan is put into effect.

Geisinger Health Insurance, offers a program that will help you choose the right Medicare plan.  It’s called Geisinger Gold and it has many advantages.

With the Geisinger name behind it, Geisinger Gold offers several coverage options that suit your Medicare needs.  Plans are affordable and they provide a large network of physicians and participating hospitals to choose from.  There are 84 hospitals that are part of the Geisinger Gold throughout the service area.  Participating doctors are over 15,000.

Geisinger Gold has health plans that include Preferred Provider Organization, Private Fee-For-Service, Medical Savings accounts, traditional HMOs as well as Special Needs Plans.  You can also opt for a stand alone prescription plan available to those with Medicare Advantage or Medicare supplement plans.  Consumers who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid two special needs plans are offered.  It’s definitely worth looking into if you are in the market.

According to their website, Humana has 9 million members across the country, 4 million of which are Medicare members.  Many choose Humana as their number one choice for their Medigap supplemental insurance because they have affordable options as well as valuable experience.

Humana is a Fortune 100 company with 50 years of experience in the health insurance field.  They also have many benefits at no extra cost which many members find invaluable.  MyHumana is a personal, secure page on their site with health tips, your personal health record and medication history.  SmartSummary and Smart Summary Rx is a monthly record detailing your benefits and tips to lower monthly spending.  They also have special clinical programs to help manage various chronic health conditions.

Those shopping for Medicare supplements can choose from Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Prescription Drug plans, and Medicare Supplement Plans to meet your needs.  It’s worth getting Humana insurance quotes to save yourself time and money.

The article “How Do You Choose the Best Medigap Policy” found on Todaysseniors.com, shares some helpful information for today’s senior citizens when choosing Medicare suppplement insurance.

There are dozens of Medigap plans out there, from UnitedHealth Care’s Secure Horizons, to AARP so it’s hard to tell what is the best value.  The good thing to know is that with each Medicare supplement plan, benefits are the same with each company.  Salesmen may try to imply otherwise, but this is mandated by the government.  Premiums can vary significantly though, so it’s important to shop around. 

The most ideal time to shop around for a Medicare supplement insurance plan is during the first 6 months after enrolling in Medicare Part B.  This is the time where insurance companies have to accept you regardless of any pre-existing conditions.  Paying a high rate for a standardized Medicare supplement plan will not get you anything more.  Their benefits are the same and so are their claim filing requirements.  Familiarize yourself with each of the different plans, understanding that Plan A has the fewest benefits with the lowest cost whereas Plan J has the most benefits and is the most expensive.

According to Medigapadvisors.com, Humana One is a Fortune 100 company with 50 years experience in health care and is committed to offering great benefits, wellness programs, and excellent customer service.  Humana is generally known for offering Part D prescription coverage but they also offer Medicare supplement insurance plans in many states. 

Humana One, which is a division of Humana, Inc, is one of the largest publicly traded health insurance companies.  With them offering medicare supplement insurance it broadens their customer base.  You can find the plan that suits you best by reviewing many of the benefits which include basic benefits, skilled nursing coinsurance, foreign travel insurance, at-home recovery and preventative care. 

Not all plans are available in all states, but you can order a brochure to compare benefits and costs.  It’s important to understand what benefits will bring you value when looking at the differing costs of each plan.  Medicare supplement insurance can be overwhelming, but very helpful in times of need.

According to the article “Medicare and You 2009″ by Sandy Stillwell from Seattle Conservative Seniors Examiner, the government is offering an official handbook through the mail to all seniors who are interested in learning more about Medicare. 

The handbook is entitled Medicare and You 2009 and has a lot of valuable information.  The handbook covers what’s new in the Medicare arena, 2009 Medicare costs, what Medicare covers, health and prescription information with medicare supplement insurance plans, and your Medicare rights.  It also covers how to look for and what to do in the case of fraud and identity theft. 

If you have not received a Handbook you are able to contact Medicare to request one.  If you need to drop, switch or join a Medicare Advantage plan you are able to do this through December 31.  The coverage for this type of plans starts the 1st of each new year.  Medicare and medicare supplement insurance plans can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing, so having this handbook at your fingertips is a great way to stay on top of all of the information out there.